S Ranganathan, owner of Sresan Pharmaceuticals in Tamil Nadu, was arrested in Chennai by Madhya Pradesh police in connection with the deaths of several children linked to the toxic cough syrup ‘Coldrif’. This product is implicated in at least 19 deaths across Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. According to Chhindwara Superintendent of Police Ajay Pandey, Ranganathan will be presented in a Chennai court before being transferred to Chhindwara after securing a transit remand. His arrest followed his detention for questioning by authorities. Several states have already prohibited the sale and distribution of Coldrif syrup. Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla confirmed that 20 children had died, with 17 of those fatalities occurring in Chhindwara district.
An investigation by the Union Health Ministry found that the cough syrup contained diethylene glycol (DEG), a toxic chemical commonly used in industrial solvents, which can cause severe kidney damage even in small quantities. The Tamil Nadu-based firm was supplying the syrup to multiple states, including Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Following tests by the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, the product was deemed adulterated, resulting in an immediate suspension of its production. On October 1, the Tamil Nadu government banned the sale of Coldrif and ordered the withdrawal of all available stock from the market. Authorities had previously announced a ₹20,000 reward for Ranganathan’s capture as the investigation into the incident continued.
